Method of swaging articles of varying cross-section.



No. 655,72l.

Patented Aug. l4. I900. J. LANZ.

METHOD OF SWAGING ARTICLES 0F. VABYING GROSS SECTION.

(Application filed Jan. 10, 1900.)

4 $heets$heet (No Model.)

No. 655.72l. Patented Aug. l4, i900.

J. LANZ.

METHOD OF SWAGING ARTICLES OF' VAR .GROSS SECTION.

(Application filed Jan. 10, 19 (No Model.) 4'Sheots-Sheet -III|- -lI I '3? L H Z '29; 157007726272 m: Nunm's PETERS co mom umo WASHINGTON o c N0. 655,72l. Patented Aug. l4, I900. J. LANZ.

METHOD OF SWAGING ARTIGLESOF VARYING GROSS SECTION.

(Application filed Jun. 10, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

(No Model.)

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V 1TB JOHN LANZ, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF SWAGING ARTICLES OF VARYING CROSS-SECTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,721, dated August 14, 1900 Application filed January 10, 1900. Serial No. 934. (No Specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Swaging Articles of Varying Cross-Section; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My imvention relates to the manufacture of metal articles which have a varying crosssection longitudinally-such, for example, as car-axles, crowbars, &c.-and it has for its object to provide a method of forming such articles from an ingot or from a bar or bloom that is substantially of the same rectangular cross-section from end to end which may be inexpensively and expeditiously practiced and the result of which shall be an article that is symmetrical in form and of uniform density or homogeneous in composition and one which shall be in all respects peculiarly adapted for the purpose intended.

I have illustrated the means for practicing my invention and the material operated upon at the several stages in the method of manufacture in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view, largely diagrammatic in character, of the entire plant utilized in practicing the method. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a metal ingot, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a bar or bloom produced by rolling an ingot like that shown in Fig. 2 to the proportions suitable for manipulation in accordance with my method to produce a car-axle. Fig. 4. is a plan view of the bar after it has beenpartially formed by compression and a portion of the compressing jaws or dies in section. Fig. 5. is a side elevation of the bar shown in Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a bar a portion of which has been treated according to a further step of the method and a pair of rolls shown in section. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bar shown in Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the shears employed for severing the blank-sections from each other. Fig. 9 is a plan view, and Fig. 9 an end View, of a blanksection. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the blank-section,the ends being partially broken away to more clearly show the engagement of the gripping mechanism therewith. Fig. 11 is a plan view of one-half of a shaping and finishing die. Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the two parts of the finishing-die, portions being broken away. Fig. 13 is a side eleva tion of a completed axle. Fig. 14. is a perspective view of a bar or bloom of different form in cross-section suitable for making I axles in accordance with my method. Fig.

15 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the form taken by the bar shown in Fig. 14 when compressed. Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the bar shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a per speeiive View of a bar of uniform rectangular cross-section and of proportions suitable for the manufacture of a crowbar. Fig. 18 is a plan view of a portion of the bar represented in Fig. 17 after the first'compression and portions of the compressing or squeezing de* vices shown in section. Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the bar resulting from the first compression. Fig. 20 is a View of a portion of a pair of rolls suitable for rolling the bar shown in Fig. 19 into the form shown in Fig. 21, which is a perspective view of a tapered bar approximately rectangular in cross-section but having its broader faces slightlyconvex. Fig. 22 is an end elevation of the jaws or dies of a press for receiving the bar shown in Fig. 21, parts being broken away. Fig. 23 is a plan view of one-half of the dies or jaws shown in Fig. 22. Fig. 24 is the product of compression in one of the forms of the compressing-dies, and Fig. 25 is a completed crowbar.

While my present invention does not comprise the mechanism employed in forming metal articles from ingots or bars, the utilization of mechanism of various kinds is necessary in order to practice my method, and I will therefore first briefly describe the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which 1 is a set of rolls for reducing an ingot to a bar of substantiallyrectangular uniform guides 5, so that it may be moved laterally into the position indicated in the drawings. Before being moved to this position, however, the apron is utilized in connection with the set of rolls 6 and the apron 7, also laterally movable on the guides 8. In order to further reduce the lateral dimensions of the bar to the size desired for its first compression into forms of longitudinally-varying cross-section, after this last-mentioned rolling is completed the bar is transferred by means of the apron 4 to the position indicated in the drawings and inserted section by section into the squeezing or compressing jaws or dies of the machine 9. These dies are of such a length as to compress one blank-section at a time, and since a bar is ordinarily of sufficient length to make several blanks it is fed length by length through this machine 9 until the entire bar has been squeezed into multiples or blanksectiOnS, of the proper length and form. The bar is then transferred by either the apron 7 or the apron 1 along the apron-guides to the rolls 6, where it is rolled sutficientlyto reduce the protuberances 011 at least two of the sides. The rolled bar is then transferred to the feeding-table 10 and from this table is fed to the shears 11, by which it. is cut into blanks of therequisitelength. Theshears11areshown in Fig. 8 in the position assumed at the time when a blank has just been severed from the bar. The shears 11 are. so constructed as to form notches or indentations in the ends of the blanks, but neither the construction of the shears nor the formation of notches in the blanks constitutes any part of my present invention. It will be understood that the crop end of each bar is severed in order to provide a, blank of the proper form and length. Each blank that is cut from the bar may be transferred by suitable mechanism 12 to a furnace 13, either to retain its temperature in case of delay or to increase its temperature, it desired. It is then transferred by suitable apparatus 14C to the apparatus 15, in which the blank is pressed or hammered into its final form. The apparatus 15 is preferably a hydraulic press; but in some cases the articles may be hammered into final form if found convenient or desirable.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 to 13, the ingot 16 (shown in Fig. 2) is rolled in the usual manner into the bar or bloom 17, preferably of oblong cross-section, as indicated, and of uniform width and thickness throughout its length. The bar or bloom 17 is then subjected section by section to compression by any suitable means, here indicated as compressing jaws or dies 18, the inner faces of which are so formed that the compression of the bar or bloom 17 takes place on two of its sides only, these in the present case being the narrow sides or edges 17 E This compression produces a middle depression 19, which gradually decreases toward the ends in the form of a taper 20. Inasmuch as the compression is applied laterally and simultaneouslythroughout the blank-section there is substantially no longitudinal flow of the metal, and the lateral flow upon the free sides forms protuberances 21, which taper oppositely from the compressed sides, the parts 22 remaining substantially of the same form and dimensions as in the bar or bloom 17. The squeezing operation also produces in the opposite edges, adjacent to the ends of the blank-section, depressions 23 and on the other sides corresponding swells or protuberances 24, the tapers 23 and 24:, adjacent to these depressions and protuberances, being similar,though of different'lcngth, from those adjacent to the middle of the section. When the entire bar is formed into multiples or blank-sections, as indicated, it is passed between a pair of ordinary rolls 6, the distance between which in the last pass is such as to reduce all of the protuberances 21 and 24, and

inasmuch as this rolling compression is progressively applied longitudinally of the bar the flow of the metal is almost entirely longitudinal. The bar is thus lengthened without materially changing the contour of the sides perpendicular to the axes of the rolls, while the thickness of the resulting bar is substantially that of the bar 17. r The contour of the edges of each blank-section of the rolled bar and the distribution of the metal throughout the length of each section correspond almost exactly to the completed article. After the rolling is completed the bar is cut up into blanks 25 in the form indicated in Figs. 9, 9 and 10, the notches 26 beingformed during the cutting operation, as previously stated. The blank 25 is then transferred by suitable means, the gripping-jaws 27 of which are formed to engage the notches 26, to the finishing-press 28 and 29. This press is pref} erably provided with two mold-forms, one end only of which has the form of the end of the finished axle. After the necessary compression is effected, so as to produce the proper form of axle at one end, the article is trans ferredto the other form, where the other end is compressed into final shape. The resulting axle 30 is indicated in Fig. 13. Inasmuch as compression of the end of a bar or blank is likely to. result in some end flow of the metal, the blank is preferably formed somewhat larger at the extreme ends than in the adjacent portions, as is clearly indicated in the drawings.

When it is desired to form an axle from a bar 31 that is more nearly square in crosssection than that employed in the method just described, the form of the compressingdies 32, Fig. 15, is such that the middle and end protuberances are of substantially the same thickness as that of the bar 31, the intermediate portions being compressed so that the side flow of the metal is in those portions of the blank between the protuberances. The resulting bar 33 has or may have substantially the same form as that resulting from the compression previously described, the

IIO

only diderence in the process being that different portions of the bar are compressed in the two cases.

Referring now to Figs. 17 to 25, thebar34 (shown in Fig. 17) is formed from an ingot by the rolling process in the usual manner; but since this is intended to be employed in the manufacture of crowbars its lateral dimen sions are less than those of either the bar 17 or the bar 31. The compressing jaws 35 (shown in Fig. 18) are of such form as to produce by the lateral pressure exerted on two of the sides of the bar the form shown in Figs. 18 and 19, in which the two ends of the blank are disposed flatwise in planes perpendicular to each other and merged one into the other, the end 36 being preferably somewhat narrower than the end 37. The bar made up of blank-sections, as indicated in Fig. 19, is now, either as a whole or after being cutinto lengths,passed between rolls 38 and 39, (shown in Fig. 20,) the first pass 40 serving to reduce the part 36 to some extent and at the same time elongate the blank, the pass 41 serving to reduce the part 36 still further and still further elongate the blank, and the pass 42.

serving to form the elongated tapered blank 43. (Shown in Fig. 21.) The blank 43 is then placed in one of the forms 44- of the compressing-dies 45 46, where it is given the form indicated in Fig. 24. It is then transferred to the form 47 and again compressed. When it is taken from the form 47, it is the finished article indicated in Fig. 25, except that the end is bent and pointed either by hand-hammering or by suitable mechanism.

In each case the bar or bloom is of oblong cross-section, such as may be quickly rolled with slight loss in the initial temperature of the ingot, and as the desired longitudinal cross-sectional area of the blank may be rolled in several passes the metal may be worked at a com paratively-low temperature. Furthermore, the blank is compressed throughout substantially its entire length, which results in a saving of time and enables the manufacturer to practically forge axles, &c., without reheating and rehandling the blooms or blanks as is now the common practice.

The compression of the bar or bloom edgewise is an important feature, since less pressure is required to form depressions than is the case when the pressure is applied to the broad surfaces of a bar that is either oblong or square in cross-section.

The shaping of the blanks by means of a hydraulic press in the manner set forth enables me to produce articles of great and substantially-uniform density, whereas shaping by means of hammering involves the expenditure of more time and the resulting article is not of uniform density throughout.

\Vhile I have shown and to some extent described certain mechanism for use in practicing my method, I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited to any spe cific mechanism, it being sufficient for the purpose that suitable means be employed for effecting the laterally and longitudinally applied compressions in the proper order and at the proper points to insure the production of blanks and finished articlesof the kind and in the manner indicated. I do not wish it to be understood by reason of anything contained in the drawings or in the specification that the invention is limited, however, to the manufacture of car-axles and crowbars, it being intended for use in the manufacture of any and all swaged articles of longitudinallyvarying cross-section irrespective of the form of such articles or the purposes for which they are intended.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The improvement in the art of forming metal articles of lon gitudinally-varyin g crosssection, which consists in subjecting a heated metal bar or bloom to laterally-applied pressure on at least two of its sides substantially throughout the length of a blank-section in such a manner as toeffcet side flow and prevent end fiow of the metal and thereby produce one or more depressions or tapers in the compressed sides and corresponding protuberances, swells or tapers in the free side or sides and then subjecting said bar to a rolling pressure applied progressively from end to end whereby the blank-sections are elongated Without materially changing the width of said sections or the contour of the sides which are perpendicular to the axes of the rolls 2. The improvement in the art of forming metal articles of ion gitudinally-varyin g crosssection which consists in subjecting a heated metal bar or bloom to lateral compression on at least two sides substantially throughout the length of a blank-section so as to produce side flow and prevent end flow of the metal and thereby produce one or more depressions in the compressed sides and one or more corresponding protuberances on the other sides, and then flattening and elongating said blank by subjecting said protuberances to a longitudinally-applied rolling pressure, substantially as set forth.

3. The improvement in the art of forming metal articles of non-uniform cross-section,

which consists in subjecting a heated metal sides of each length, then subjecting the protuberances,swells or tapers to longitudinally applied rolling pressure, and compressing or hammering each blank into final form, substantially as set forth.

4. The method of forming metal articles of longitudinally varying cross section, which consists in subjecting a heated metal bar or bloom of substantially-uniform cross-section to such degrees of laterally-applied pressure at different points throughout the length of a blank-section as will produce depressions in the compressed sides and corresponding protuberances, swells or tapers on the other sides by side flow of the metal only, then subjecting the last-named sides to such a degree of longitudinally-applied rolling pressure as will remove the protuberances, swells or tapers and correspondingly elongate the bar, then cutting the blank-sections from the bar and finally compressing or hammering each blank into final form, substantially as set forth.

5. The method of forming metal articles of longitudinally varying cross-section, which consists in subjecting a heated metal bar or bloom to laterally-applied pressure on at least two of its sides substantially throughout the length of a blank-section, in such a manner as will effect side flow and avoid end flow of the metal and thereby produce one or more depressions or tapers in the compressed side or sides and corresponding protuberances, swells or tapers in the free side or sides, then subjecting said bar to a rolling pressure applied progressively from end to end, then separating the blank-sections from each other, then heating the blanks and finally compressing or hammering the blanks into final form, substantially as set forth.

6. The improvement in the art of forming metal articles of non-uniform cross-section, which consists in subjecting a heated metal bar or bloom in multiples to laterally-applied pressure on at least two of its sides substantially throughout the length of a blank-section to produce side flow and prevent end flow of the metal and thereby form one or more depressions or tapers in the compressed sides and corresponding protuberances,swells or tapers on the other side or sides of each length, then subjecting the protuberances, swells or tapers to longitudinally-applied rolling pressure, then separating the blank-sections from each other and finally compressing or hammering each blank into final form, substantially as set forth.

7. The improvement in the art of forming metal articles of longitudinally-varying crosssection which consists in subjecting a heated metal bar or bloom to edgewise compression substantially throughout the length of a blank-section in such a manner as will cause side flow and prevent end flow of the metal so as to produce one or more depressions in the compressed sides and one or more corresponding protuberances on the other sides, and then flattening and elongating said blank by subjecting said protuberances to a longi tudinally-applied rolling pressure, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JOHN LANZ, have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN LANZ.

Witnesses:

GRACE O. RAYMOND, ROBERT C. TOTTEN. 

